Manufacturer support for partners

FAQs on changes effective July 1, 2026

To continue supporting you as a partner in the best possible way amid increasing demands in the fields of networking technology and cybersecurity, we are further developing our service and support offering in a targeted manner. Therefore, effective from July 1, 2026, we will adjust our support offering for LANcommunity partners. In these FAQs, you will find a transparent overview of all changes and available support services – structured according to when you purchased your devices from us.

Everything at a glance

Overview

What will change as of July 1, 2026?

As part of our ongoing development, we will transition manufacturer support for partners to an optional, device-based model effective July 1, 2026: LANcare will become the central foundation for all our support offerings. Depending on the purchase date of your devices, the following regulations will apply for you as a partner:

Existing devices → support unchanged until a maximum of June 30, 2028

For devices purchased by LANcommunity partners before July 1, 2026, a two-year transitional arrangement applies: During this period, technical manufacturer support will continue to be available as usual (existing support until June 30, 2028), provided that the device has not yet reached End of Life status. This ensures sufficient time to gradually adapt to the new support model – without any additional action required by the effective date.

The only new aspect is that existing devices can be registered and managed in the new registration portal, starting from July 1, 2026. Learn more about existing devices

New devices → support only with LANcare Access or Direct

For new devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward, manufacturer support will no longer automatically be included in the partner status. Instead, you as a partner can decide individually for which devices you would like to use manufacturer support – flexibly and according to your needs via the new support product LANcare Access or through the familiar LANcare Direct variants. Management is conveniently handled through the new registration portal. With LANcare Access, you benefit from a transparent and standardized pricing model regardless of partner status and device class, flexible terms of 1, 3, or 5 years, and predictable renewal dates. Learn more about new devices


What can I do as a partner now?

1. Get an overview of your devices

For devices purchased before July 1, 2026, manufacturer support will remain available until June 30, 2028, provided the devices have not reached End of Life status. No immediate action is required for these devices. Optionally, you may still register your existing devices in the new registration portal. These devices will be assigned to the “Existing product support” service level, giving you a centralized overview of all your devices in the future.

2. Include LANcare in new projects from the very beginning

In future, include support services in the form of LANcare Access or LANcare Direct directly in every device within your project planning, quotations, and calculations. Especially for productive or business-critical systems, early protection through suitable LANcare variants is recommended.

Learn more about the LANcare variants

3. Coordinate your support requirements with us

Determine which support level you require for which systems. Base your decision on the deployment scenario, criticality, and desired level of protection. We will gladly support you together with your sales or support contact in selecting the appropriate LANcare variant and in your further planning.

Consulting services

Background Information

Why is manufacturer support changing for new devices?

By transitioning to an optional, device-based support model, we will be able to align our support services even more closely with your actual…

By transitioning to an optional, device-based support model, we will be able to align our support services even more closely with your actual requirements in the future. For devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward, manufacturer support can therefore be added flexibly per device via LANcare Access or LANcare Direct – exactly where you need it. This allows you to decide for yourself for which devices you would like to maintain manufacturer support and additional services. Support thus becomes a transparently plannable component of your projects, quotations, and budgets. At the same time, you retain full control over your individual level of protection.

With LANcare Access, you as a partner receive a clearly defined service offering with centralized portal management, predictable contract terms, and a standardized pricing structure – regardless of device class or partner status.

The clear allocation of support services per device also enables us to use our resources more efficiently and to place greater focus on complex and security-critical topics. At the same time, we are creating the foundation for continuously investing in quality, expertise, processes, and new services – for example through additional services within the LANcare products or expanded training offerings in the LANacademy.

From when exactly will the support changes apply?

For devices purchased by LANcommunity partners from July 1, 2026 onward via distribution, system integrators, or specialist retailers, manufacturer…

For devices purchased by LANcommunity partners from July 1, 2026 onward via distribution, system integrators, or specialist retailers, manufacturer support will no longer be automatically included.

For devices that partners purchased before this date, a transitional arrangement applies from July 1, 2026 until June 30, 2028 (at the latest until the device reaches EOL).

Do the new support regulations apply to all partners?

The new support regulations for devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward generally apply to all partner statuses – regardless of the duration of the…

The new support regulations for devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward generally apply to all partner statuses – regardless of the duration of the partnership. This creates a uniform and transparent basis for our support services.

At the same time, it remains our goal to accommodate the individual requirements of our partners as effectively as possible. Should you have special requirements or interest in specific contractual adjustments, please feel free to contact us – we will gladly review possible solutions together.

Our long-standing and trusting cooperation with you as a partner remains a central part of our partnership – and this will not change in the future.

What happens to support contracts?

Existing framework agreements containing support components and LANcare Premium support contracts will remain completely unaffected by any changes to the general partner support model beyond July 1, 2026.

Existing devices before July 1, 2026

What exactly changes for my existing devices?

LANcommunity partners will continue to receive our free technical manufacturer support for devices purchased before July 1, 2026 for additional two…

LANcommunity partners will continue to receive our free technical manufacturer support for devices purchased before July 1, 2026 for additional two years – provided the devices have not yet reached End of Life status. This means that, for existing installations, no additional action is initially required: existing devices can continue to be operated and supported as usual. 

Only after this transitional period, starting from June 30, 2028, should you purchase at least the LANcare Access support product for each device that is to continue receiving support. Our service staff will also be happy to personally provide detailed information about these changes as part of a support case.

Starting from July 1, 2026, you may optionally register existing devices in the new LANcare Portal in order to keep track of their support level at any time. Existing devices will automatically be assigned the support level “Existing product support” in the overview. This ensures that existing support entitlements remain centrally visible and manageable.

Do the support changes also apply to existing devices?

Yes – but only after the transitional period ends on June 30, 2028. After this date, at least LANcare Access will be required for all partners in order to continue receiving manufacturer support for “existing devices purchased before July 1, 2026”.

What remains unchanged and free of charge?

All partners will continue to receive manufacturer support for LANCOM devices delivered before July 1, 2026 for an additional two years (at the latest…

All partners will continue to receive manufacturer support for LANCOM devices delivered before July 1, 2026 for an additional two years (at the latest until the device reaches EOL). For these devices, you can therefore continue to contact us directly during service hours – as usual via the support portal or by phone.

Our free digital self-service offerings – such as the Knowledge Base, the AI chatbot, or the registration website – will of course continue to be available around the clock and will be continuously expanded. For example, there is a new feature in the area of registrations: from July 1, 2026 onward, you will be able to use the new registration portal for LANcare licenses (LANcare Portal). If existing devices are recorded there, they will automatically receive the support level “Existing product support”, provided that no additional LANcare variants (e.g. LANcare Direct) are registered on the device. This allows you to keep track of all support entitlements centrally and clearly.

What happens when the device reaches End of Life?

When a device reaches the lifecycle status End of Life (generally 5 years after End of Sale), all entitlement to manufacturer support ends –…

When a device reaches the lifecycle status End of Life (generally 5 years after End of Sale), all entitlement to manufacturer support ends – regardless of the duration of any transitional arrangement. The transitional period until June 30, 2028 only applies to devices that have not reached End of Life status by that date.

How can I tell whether my device is considered an existing device?

The decisive factor for classification as an “existing device before July 1, 2026” is the delivery date from distribution. This date is recorded when…

The decisive factor for classification as an “existing device before July 1, 2026” is the delivery date from distribution. This date is recorded when the device is packaged and shipped by the distributor. If this date is before July 1, 2026, the device falls under the transitional arrangement and will continue to receive technical manufacturer support for partners during the defined period (maximum of two years or until the device reaches EOL).

What happens to devices that I purchased but only put into operation later?

For partners to make use of the transitional arrangement, the decisive factor is not the date of…

For partners to make use of the transitional arrangement, the decisive factor is not the date of commissioning, but the delivery date from distribution. If the device was shipped by distribution before July 1, 2026, it is considered an existing device regardless of the installation date and falls under the transitional arrangement.

What happens with RMA or replacement devices?

If a device purchased before July 1, 2026 is replaced as part of an RMA case during the transitional period until June 30, 2028, the existing…

If a device purchased before July 1, 2026 is replaced as part of an RMA case during the transitional period until June 30, 2028, the existing transitional arrangement will also apply to the replacement device. The replacement device will therefore also continue to receive our technical manufacturer support for partners until a maximum of June 30, 2028 or until the respective End of Life date. The replacement does not extend or restart the two-year transitional period.

Which support level do existing devices receive?

Devices delivered before July 1, 2026, which therefore continue to receive manufacturer support for an additional two years (at the latest until the…

Devices delivered before July 1, 2026, which therefore continue to receive manufacturer support for an additional two years (at the latest until the device reaches EOL), will automatically be assigned the support level “Existing product support” in the LANcare Portal. This clearly distinguishes existing support entitlements from additionally registered LANcare services.

How do I obtain LANcare Access for existing devices after the transitional period?

During the transitional period, you may upgrade existing devices at any time from existing product…

During the transitional period, you may upgrade existing devices at any time from existing product support to higher-level support offerings such as LANcare Direct in order to benefit from guaranteed initial response times and binding SLAs.

After the transitional period has ended, you may add LANcare Access specifically for each device (if you have not opted for LANcare Direct) in order to continue receiving manufacturer support. To make the transition easier for you, you can already take care of the future coverage of your devices during the ongoing transitional period and plan LANcare Access at an early stage.

The following applies: if you book a paid LANcare Access term for a device that is currently covered by the transitional arrangement before June 30, 2028, this term will not start immediately, but only after the end of the existing transitional period. You can view the exact license start date at any time in the registration portal.

This gives you flexibility in your planning and allows you to organize the transition to the new support model early and without time pressure.

New devices as of July 1, 2026

What exactly changes for my new devices?

For devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward, technical manufacturer support will no longer automatically be included in the respective partner…

For devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward, technical manufacturer support will no longer automatically be included in the respective partner status. In future, our manufacturer support will be provided specifically per device through a registered LANcare product – for example LANcare Access or LANcare Direct.

This allows you to decide flexibly and according to your actual needs for which devices you would like to use manufacturer support and additional services. At the same time, you benefit from a transparently calculable and standardized offering with clearly plannable terms and centralized administration via the new LANcare Portal.

Responsibility for supporting your customers remains primarily in your hands as a partner. LANcare Access complements this support specifically where additional manufacturer assistance is required if needed. Our service staff will also be happy to personally explain the changes in detail during a support case.

For which devices should I plan support?

Manufacturer support is booked individually for each actively used device through a registered LANcare product – for example LANcare Access or LANcare…

Manufacturer support is booked individually for each actively used device through a registered LANcare product – for example LANcare Access or LANcare Direct. As a simple guideline: a LANcare product should be planned for all devices operated in a productive environment or for which manufacturer assistance may be required in the event of a malfunction. Examples:

  • Smaller installations: For a small number of centrally used devices, it is generally recommended to equip all devices with LANcare Access or Direct.
  • Larger environments: Here, you can decide individually for which devices support is required – for example LANcare Direct for particularly critical or central components and LANcare Access for all others.

This keeps the decision flexible and tailored to your respective deployment scenario.

Can I add support for new devices when I actually need it?

In principle, we recommend planning and registering LANcare Access directly when purchasing the device. This ensures that manufacturer support is…

In principle, we recommend planning and registering LANcare Access directly when purchasing the device. This ensures that manufacturer support is immediately available if needed, while also creating a reliable planning basis – both for your own projects and for our support capacities.

This approach corresponds to the proven practice used for LANcare variants with replacement services, where early coverage (within a maximum of 3 months after device purchase) is especially important. Although this is not mandatory for LANcare Access, it is also recommended here. Ideally, you should therefore already include LANcare Access in your budgeting for devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward.

For spontaneous support requirements, you naturally still have the option to add LANcare Access or LANcare Direct at a later stage. Please note, however, that immediate support readiness cannot be guaranteed in such cases.

What happens if I do not add support for my new devices?

The use of any support services for new devices from July 1, 2026 onwards requires a registered LANcare product – for example LANcare Access or…

The use of any support services for new devices from July 1, 2026 onwards requires a registered LANcare product – for example LANcare Access or LANcare Direct. Without an active LANcare product, access to our support channels (hotline and ticket system) will not be possible. Please note that in productive environments, no individual assistance from our support team will be provided in the event of a malfunction. To ensure smooth operation and rapid assistance when needed, we therefore recommend planning support directly when purchasing the device.

Publicly available information such as documentation in our publications or Knowledge Base, as well as self-service offerings (e.g. AI chatbot), will of course continue to be available to help solve your issue at any time.

How should I explain these changes to my customers?

From July 1, 2026 onward, technical manufacturer support will be booked exclusively per device through LANcare (Access or Direct) as an independent…

From July 1, 2026 onward, technical manufacturer support will be booked exclusively per device through LANcare (Access or Direct) as an independent service. This clearly separates support services from the product itself and makes them transparently calculable. For you as a partner, this means that you can specifically define for which installed systems you want to maintain manufacturer escalation and technical backup in the background. LANcare Access applies a standardized price per device – regardless of the device class. This simplifies your planning, calculations, and quotation processes. End-customer support continues to be provided primarily by you as the partner. LANcare complements this service wherever additional support from our support team is useful or necessary in individual cases.

Example wording for end customers: “Your ongoing support and assistance will continue to be provided directly by us. For selected systems, we can additionally plan manufacturer backup coverage (product: LANcare Access). This provides a technical escalation path to the manufacturer whenever required. This allows support to be specifically secured where it is particularly important for stable operation. For requirements involving guaranteed response times, this coverage can be expanded through LANcare Direct.”

LANcare Portal & administration

How does LANcare Access differ from LANcare Direct?

The key difference lies in the target group and the scope of services – especially regarding response times. Choosing the appropriate LANcare variant…

The key difference lies in the target group and the scope of services – especially regarding response times. Choosing the appropriate LANcare variant is also a deliberate decision with regard to availability and operational reliability and therefore represents active operational risk management:

LANcare Access is specifically designed for partners and provides basic coverage for devices of any type with personal best-effort support during service hours. Thanks to the runtime calculation starting only at the beginning of the next quarter, partners can easily keep track of renewals and benefit from up to 90 days of bonus usage.

LANcare Direct provides a higher level of predictability and risk reduction through prioritized SLA support including guaranteed response times — either during service hours or around the clock with a 24/7 emergency hotline. The Advanced variants additionally include advance replacement of defective devices in the event of a fault. LANcare Direct can be used by both partners and end customers and is particularly suitable for business-critical devices.

Security updates during the term are included in all LANcare variants to support long-term investment planning. All LANcare variants can be managed via the new registration portal (LANcare Portal). A detailed overview of all LANcare variants can be found in our Service & Support Overview.

Can I later upgrade LANcare Access to LANcare Direct?

Yes, an upgrade from LANcare Access to higher-value LANcare variants such as LANcare Direct is possible at any time through the purchase and…

Yes, an upgrade from LANcare Access to higher-value LANcare variants such as LANcare Direct is possible at any time through the purchase and registration of a LANcare Direct variant. This allows you to flexibly adapt your support concept to increasing requirements or changing operational risks – for example in the case of higher availability requirements, defined response times, or the need for extended 24/7 accessibility.

When upgrading to LANcare Direct, a new term begins; any existing LANcare Access term is replaced.

Can I later change LANcare Direct to LANcare Access?

A downgrade is only possible at the end of the LANcare Direct term.

How does the runtime model for LANcare Access work?

LANcare Access uses a simplified, quarter-based runtime model specifically introduced to simplify planning and administration for partners. LANcare…

LANcare Access uses a simplified, quarter-based runtime model specifically introduced to simplify planning and administration for partners. LANcare Access becomes active immediately after successful registration and can be used right away; however, the actual term (1, 3, or 5 years) always begins at the start of the next quarter. Depending on the registration date, this gives you up to 90 days of additional use at no extra cost. This so-called “push-forward principle” therefore provides a clear advantage: in addition to the possible bonus usage period, you benefit from only four fixed renewal dates per year. This significantly reduces administrative effort and provides a much clearer overview when managing your support services.

This model applies exclusively to LANcare Access. Other LANcare variants such as LANcare Direct continue to use traditional individually starting terms

How much effort is required to manage LANcare Access?

Compared to the previous support model, an additional administrative step is initially required for devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward, since…

Compared to the previous support model, an additional administrative step is initially required for devices purchased from July 1, 2026 onward, since support services are specifically managed per device through a LANcare product. This means that you as a partner actively define which devices should receive support. At the same time, we have intentionally designed the administration process to be as simple and efficient as possible: via the new centralized registration portal (LANcare Portal), you can clearly view the status of all your devices and LANcare registrations at any time in one single place. You can directly create new registrations and renewals yourself there – easily manageable in German, English, and French. In addition, the LANcare Portal actively supports you by informing you early about expiring licenses. This ensures that you always remain in control and can plan your support requirements effectively without losing oversight.

How do I gain access to the LANcare Portal?

As a partner, you will receive access to the LANcare Portal from July 1, 2026 onward via our Partner Portal (PRM). A prerequisite for this is…

As a partner, you will receive access to the LANcare Portal from July 1, 2026 onward via our Partner Portal (PRM). A prerequisite for this is therefore an existing registration in the PRM. For the first use of the LANcare Portal, a one-time registration is required. During this process, you provide your partner number and the email address stored in the PRM and create a new secure password. After successful registration, you can log in to the registration portal at any time and centrally manage your LANcare registrations.

Can the registration portal / LANcare Portal be accessed via an API?

Currently, no API integration is available for the registration portal. At present, usage is…

Currently, no API integration is available for the registration portal. At present, usage is exclusively via the web interface. However, a corresponding API integration is already planned.

Can I manage or book multiple devices collectively in the portal?

Yes, this is easily possible. The registration portal supports the management and registration of multiple devices via bulk import. As already…

Yes, this is easily possible. The registration portal supports the management and registration of multiple devices via bulk import. As already familiar from the previous registration website, you can conveniently register and edit devices via CSV upload. This allows even larger device inventories to be managed quickly, in a standardized manner, and with significantly reduced administrative effort. Especially for larger installations, this ensures efficient processing and gives you a constant overview of your LANcare bookings.

Can I manage multiple users or accounts?

Yes. All email addresses stored in your company’s Partner Portal (PRM) can register in the LANcare Portal. Authorized users will see the same…

Yes. All email addresses stored in your company’s Partner Portal (PRM) can register in the LANcare Portal. Authorized users will see the same centralized dashboard and have access to the same device and LANcare information. This ensures that multiple people within your company can work with the portal simultaneously and transparently.

How will I be informed about expiring LANcare licenses?

In the dashboard of the LANcare Portal, you can immediately see how many LANcare licenses for your devices will expire soon (table entry “Expiring…

In the dashboard of the LANcare Portal, you can immediately see how many LANcare licenses for your devices will expire soon (table entry “Expiring Soon”). In addition, you will continue to receive automated email notifications as usual – generally three months before the respective term expires. This gives you sufficient time to plan and implement any necessary renewals in time.

What happens if I perform a registration incorrectly?

Once completed, a registration cannot be reversed. The selected LANcare variant is permanently linked to the specified device and cannot be…

Once completed, a registration cannot be reversed. The selected LANcare variant is permanently linked to the specified device and cannot be transferred to another device. Please therefore pay particular attention to entering the correct serial number and verify it carefully before completing the registration. If you have any questions or require assistance, our service portal is available to you at any time. Additional contact options can also be found on the support contact website.

Can I subsequently manage existing devices in the LANcare Portal?

Yes. You may optionally register existing devices in the LANcare Portal. These devices will…

Yes. You may optionally register existing devices in the LANcare Portal. These devices will automatically be assigned the support level “Existing product support.” This gives you a centralized overview of which devices continue to have manufacturer support during the transitional period until a maximum of June 30, 2028 and which devices are covered by additional LANcare services (e.g. LANcare Direct). In addition, contract terms and renewal dates can be easily tracked.


Learn more about our service & support

Award-winning support from Germany

As a company, we stand for “IT Security Engineered in Germany” and award-winning support (including “Best in Service & Support“, PUR IT Operations 2025). Our support team is based entirely in Germany and provides more than 300 years of combined support experience to assist you with in-depth expertise. Personal support is delivered exclusively by our own staff and follows clearly defined processes as well as proven quality standards.

Certified information security

A key part of our commitment is information security: our service and support processes meet the requirements of the internationally recognized ISO/IEC 27001 standard and are documented and certified. This underlines our continuous commitment to high information security standards and the protection of sensitive data – both within our internal processes and in collaboration with our customers and partners.

Know-how for the success of your projects

Our goal is not only to provide fast support, but also to enable you to operate solutions independently and efficiently in the long term. For this reason, we actively promote the development of expertise, among other things through our training platform LANacademy, whose offering we continuously expand – for example in the area of troubleshooting.

Learn more about our service & support offerings


Individual consultation

Didn’t find your question here? The LANCOM sales team  is happy to assist you in selecting the optimal services tailored to your specific network requirements. If you have any questions or requests, feel free to reach out via contact form or by phone: +49 (0)2405 49936 122 (International).

Important note: Please note that this channel does not handle support requests. For technical support, please contact your designated support contact directly.

Do you need support?

If you have any technical questions or a need for manufacturer support, feel free to contact our support team via the support portal. Further contact options for partners can be found on the support contact website.

To the support portal